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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 3, 1987)
Editorial Proposal a chance to withdraw troops On Monday Najibullah. the* communist leader of Afghanistan, unveiled a new constitution as an effort to in voke; a policy of "national reconciliation," and established a 12-month timeline feir the; withdrawal of Soviet troops in the country. These proposals will be top priorities at the summit meeting between Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev anei President Ronald Reagan. Therefore. Reagan should seize the opportunity to reach an agreement removing Soviet troops and ending American supplies of weapons to Islamic fundamentalist guerrillas fighting in Afghanistan. With con tinued pressure, a reasonable compromise could bo negotiated for both sides. The new constitution is a step in the right direction, but it is not foolproof. The constitution creates an all-powerful president who also would serve as a commander-in-chief of an army The president would have a wide-range of emergency powers as well. After Najibullah introduced the constitution, he unanimously was elected to this position. Najibullah extended an invitation to guerrillas to end their rebellion if he pulled Soviet troops out of the country. 11 is new presidential power will prevent a reconciliation with guerrillas, diplomats say They would not bo willing to join a coalition government. Soviet troops have occupied Afghanistan since December of 1979 in an attempt to control factional fighting. Currently 115.()()() troops occupy the country and protect tin; current leadership. Moscow diplomats say that the Na jibullah regime would collapse without the support of the Soviet sponsorship However, Gorbachev recognizes the need to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. The invasion has become an em barrassment and an economic burden for the Soviet Union. Najihullah also seems ready to lead the country without Soviet assistance. During an interview with NB(! News, Gorbachev said a political solution to the problem "could be done very quick ly" if the United States was willing This is an open invita tion to Reagan to negotiate with Gorbachev at the summit meeting. The opportunity is present and Reagan should take advantage of it. The Reagan administration already has expressed disap pointment in Najibullah's proposal for removing Soviet troops over a 12-month period. The administration contends the proposal is inadequate because the withdrawal would start after American and Pakistani aid to guerrillas was cutoff and a coalition government was created. Despite the hindrances of the withdrawal proposal, many expect Reagan and Gorbachev to discuss the issue and develop a formal proposal in their meeting Najihullah has expressed his desire to lead the country without the Soviet's support We should honor his initial wish by stopping aid to the guerrillas. In the same tone, the guerrillas should consider Najibullah's proposal. The situa tion is open for reconciliation and potential peace. Najibullah's constituion and withdrawl proposal have come at an ideal time for Soviet and American negotiations. It would be foolish of Reagan to waste a prime opportunity to resolve the conflict in Afghanistan. Oregon Daily Emerald P O Ben JIM. Kupw. Or*(tm *74#.1 The Oregon Daily Emerald is published Monday through Friday eacepl during eaam wee* and vacations by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co, at the University or Oregon, Eugene, Oregon The Emerald operates independently o! the University with offices on the third floor of the Erb Memorial Union and is a member of the Associated Press The Emerald is private property The unlawful removal or use of papers is prosecutable by law General Staff Advertising Director Susan Thelen Production Manager Michele Ross Classified Manager Kelli Mason Assistant to the Publisher Jean Ownbey Advertising Sales Rick Mart; Sales Manager Ten Boring. Gary Delossa. Tom Leech. Catherine lilfa Rick Mart;. Laura McKinney Joann Nelson Julie Paul. Barbara Rogers. Scott Thorkildson. Joan Wildermuth News and Editorial 666'5511 Display Advertising and Business 666-3712 Classified Advertising 666 434] Letter Perfect Graphics 666 5511 Production 686 4381 Circulation 686 S511 Editor Managing Editor News Editor Editorial Page Editors Sports Editor Photo Editor Graphic Design Editor Special Issues Editor Entertainment Sports Night Editor Stanley Nelson Scott Maben Carolyn Lamberson Angela Muni; Steven Hoenlsch Aaron Kno> Shu'Shing Chen Lorraine Rath Kelly Kortekaas Segment Editor H C Hutto Stanley Nelson Associate Editors Community Higher Education Administration Student Government Activities Features Stephen Maher Michael Drummond Will Holbert Kelly Kortekaas Reporters Betsy Clayton. Paula Green. Frale de Guzman. Craig Harris. Gary Henley Andrew LaMar. Jell Morgan. In grid Petersen. Cam! Swanson. Kelvin Wee Photographers: Sherlyn Biorkgren Chnstophe Chabaudie Andy Cnpe, Clilf Etzel John Giustlna. Bobbie Lo. Gregor Okorn Andre Ranteri. Ted Shepler Michael Templeton. Dan Wheelei Production: Sandra Daller I Ad Coordinator Kelly Alevandre Ronwln Nicole Ashton. Virginia Baniaga Laura Carhart. Eva Cohen. Stephanie Drynan, Dolores For rero. Shannon Gaither. Lisa Haggerty. Stephanie Holland. Deirdre Kelly. Eliot Knight. Chris Kno» Jung Lee Bobbie Lo. James Mason Ross Martin. Angela Muniz. Ted Shepler Linda Sperling, Lisa Svanevik ingnC) white Kelly Williams. Serena Williams, X Kang Xie DON’T K SHiY1. NOWWTWIIKXWW IPTTIRy TKNCB! Letters Self-destructive I have been a professor af the University for years, and re< entJy fan ime an emeritus fiut still interested professor Although I have opposed Presi dent (Hum. and still do oppose him on some important ques tions (ROTC on campus, the Riverfront Research Park, anti method of distributing "across the-board" faculty board raises). I have always liked him personally and felt that he is a gtxjd and effective president If the State Board's objective in forcing his early retirement is to "promote an orderly transi tion" as stated several times, they certainly muffed it in a big way. In all the time I have been here 1 have never seen what pro mises to be a more disorderly and frustrating transition. The board has succeeded in pitting almost the entire Univer sity community against it. and i aused many people all over the state to question their good sense and integrity. "Wise Owls?", perhaps bird brained The board also recently has grabbed more power in the presidential selection process and reduced the role of the University. What really good man would want to step into this mess, or would operate well in it'? The next president will almost cer tainly be received with less en thusiasm and more skepticism on campus than would other wise be the case, and will feel very uneasy about his or her relationship with the board. I can't think of any way the board could have more effec tively inflicted wounds upon itself and the state system than the processes by which it reach ed and implemented this decision. Havard Me Connaughey Professor Emeritus The irony of it The irony of the Nov. 18 deci sion by the State Board of Higher Kducation regarding University President Paul Olum should not be overlooked by any concerned citizen. The decision by the board came on the same day the Senate Select Committee on the Iran-Contra affair gave its final opinions regarding the president of the United States And the date is not the only irony. The final decisions, in both cases, left much to be desired by anyone with a sense of justice, a concern for the future and a clarity of perception. One presi dent was found, through a con sensus opinion produced by a series of checks and balances, to o<! out oi toucn witn tne demands of his job, incapable of meting out the constitutional re quirement to "care” for the laws of his country, and to possess a cavalier attitude regar ding the ultimate need to care The other president, almost Letters Policy The Kmerald will attempt to print all letters containing comments on topics of in terest to the University com munity. Comments must lie factually accurate and refrain from personal attacks on the character of others. letters to the oditor must lie limited to no mom than 250 words, legible, signed and the identification of the writer must be verified when the letter is submitted The Kmerald reserves the right to edit any letter for length or style. Letters should be turned into the Kmerald office, Suite .!()<). EMU. universally applauded by educators, lawmakers, faculty colleagues, and students was found to be — apparently without the need for checks and balances, total legality, or even the clarity of decision — in some way (though never clearly defined) unsatisfactory. The first president, though every major opinion poll suggests there are serious doubts about his past actions and future capabilities, remains firmly in place. The second president, though every major group with an opinion that should matter has proclaimed its total sup port, is going to lie forced to leave the job that clearly needs him. Does this state board want to embrace, foster, and implement qualities that help produce a society that disregards over whelming public opinion, defies its own stated goal to pro duce quality education, and does so in ways which anger and disillusion the very people it claims it is trying to help? Questions like these are dif ficult to answer and still keep a straight face Just ask Ronald Reagan. Ur. Krik Nelson Writer/Uept. of education Good judge We may never know for cer tain whether Douglas Ginsburg was a "more qualified" nominee for Supreme Court justice, hut it is obvious that he has infinitely more class than Robert Hork. knowing that he didn't have a snowball's chance in hell of being confirmed. Bork selfishly chose to waste the taxpayers' money, the Senate's time, and to embarrass the president and the administration by fighting his lost cause to the bitter end Ginsburg's frank admission of having smoked marijuana should not even have entered into consideration of his judicial abilities, but of course it was a political faux pas. His voluntary withdrawal of his candidacy demonstrates greater concern for this country and its people than Bork has ever shown. Hiawatha Graduate, music
